Aachen jinx strikes again as Bayern crash out of cup

Bayern Munich's Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro(L) fights for the ball against TSV Alemannia Aachen's striker Jan Schlaudraff during their German Cup match at the stadium in Aachen. Bayern Munich's hopes of lifting the German Cup for a third successive season went up in smoke as Alemannia Aachen produced the shock of the season with a 4-2 win to eliminate the holders at the last 16 stage.

Bayern Munich's hopes of lifting the German Cup for a third successive season went up in smoke as Alemannia Aachen produced the shock of the season with a 4-2 win to eliminate the holders at the last 16 stage.

The damage was done in the first half with Aachen taking a three goal lead through Romanian midfielder Laurentiu Reghecampf and Marius Ebbers.

Bayern did make a spirited second-half comeback to reduce the margin to 3-2 but German international Jan Schlaudraff, who is a transfer target for Bayern during the winter transfer window, sealed it for the hosts late on.

Incredibly Bayern had not lost in the cup for close to three years with their last reverse coming at the hands of Aachen who won the quarter-final match 2-1 back in February 2004.

"We lost the game in the first half when we missed our chances and then collapsed at the back," said Bayern coach Felix Magath.

Bayern Munich's midfielder Mark van Bommel(R) tries to hold TSV Alemannia Aachen's striker Marius Ebbers from the ball during their German Cup match at the stadium in Aachen. Bayern Munich's hopes of lifting the German Cup for a third successive season went up in smoke as Alemannia Aachen produced the shock of the season with a 4-2 win to eliminate the holders at the last 16 stage.

"We thought we had the game under control and then we made mistakes. We conceded three goals but I would not go as far as saying we have defensive problems. It was just a freak thing that all their shots went in."

German Under-21 international Michael Rensing was deputising for Oliver Kahn in goal as Magath felt he would benefit from the experience but it was one to forget as Aachen scored three times in the first half.

An unstoppable free-kick from Reghecampf put Aachen ahead in the 11th minute and he scored again on 39 minutes as Bayern defenders allowed him to drill in a low shot.

A counter attack caught Bayern out again close to half-time with Ebbers finishing a fine move.

"Bayern had the better chances early on and if they had gone ahead it would have been difficult, but everything we hit went in - sometimes it goes like that," said Aachen manager Michael Frontzeck.

Bayern Munich's midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger(L) tackles TSV Alemannia Aachen's midfielder Cristian Fiel during their German Cup match at the stadium in Aachen. Bayern Munich's hopes of lifting the German Cup for a third successive season went up in smoke as Alemannia Aachen produced the shock of the season with a 4-2 win to eliminate the holders at the last 16 stage.

Lukas Podolski came on in the second half for Bayern and had an immediate impact scoring two minutes after the break.

Dutch midfielder Marc van Bommel then produced a terrific strike on 68 minutes to make it 3-2 as Aachen wobbled.

But Schlaudraff produced a mesmerising run in the final minute and capped it with a clever finish to put Aachen through.

"We were running on fumes at the end," admitted Schlaudraff. "We knew it would be tough to stop Bayern from showing their individual qualities and it certainly was. They had chances but the difference was we took ours."

With favourites Bayern out the cup looks wide open particularly as Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, joint leaders in the league, have also been knocked out.

There are seven Bundesliga teams left among the last eight with VfB Stuttgart, fourth in the league, installed as new favourites closely followed by Hertha Berlin.

Last season's finalists Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Nuremberg, VfL Wolfsburg and Hanover complete the list of top-flight sides.

Second division Kickers Offenbach are the only team left in the competition from outside the Bundesliga after their 2-1 win over Wacker Burghausen on Wednesday.